Kenya: Celebrations for 100th anniversary of Loreto schools

Procession during Mass

Celebrations were held in the Loreto school grounds, Msongari, Nairobi on Saturday, 29 January, to mark the centenary of Loreto in East Africa.

The Archbishop of Mombasa, Martin Kivuva was the chief celebrant at the open air centennial Mass. Students from all the Loreto schools participated in the liturgy. The President of Kenya, himself a past pupil of the kindergarten, sent a representative.

Sister Betty White, 93, from Monkstown Co Dublin, (educated at The Green, her parents owned Slineys shop on Grafton St), planted a tree from her wheelchair to honour the founding sisters. There were six of them. All were Irish.

They landed in Mombasa in October 1921. They could not have imagined what lay ahead of them. They started the first school for African girls in East Africa.

Archbishop Martin spoke of the contribution of Loreto to the Church in Kenya, of how the pioneers left their homes and families to bring education to a multitude of Kenyan girls over the past 100 years. What would the country have been without them? he asked.

The sisters have left an indelible mark on the men and women of the country. Archbishop Martin read a list of 12 schools that are run by Loreto all over Kenya, with expansion to Tanzania, South Sudan and Ghana. Over that time there have been many hidden sacrifices, funds garnered to pay for fees of needy girls, lives spent in service, lessons prepared, exams proctored, with not a few contradictions as in any apostolic activity

A sense of joy was palpable during the Mass. On hand were 75 young Kenyan sisters who are looking forward to the next 100 years. Sr Caitriona Kelly, 80, Sr Mary Owens, 83, Sr Nuala Brangan, 70, and Sr Betty White are the last of the Irish.

A 'PHD' was mentioned as the core values of the nuns: prayer, hard work and discipline. One person was asked if he had attended a Loreto school, he said no but my mother did. Many kids here say the same.

The empowerment of women is not a new concept, the women who came here in 1921 were all for it. They brought Christ. They started under trees. United to the vine, they focused on producing concentrated mature grapes.

Their foundress, Ven Mary Ward, wanted education, but not without justice.

The latest project being developed for the future is the building of a school in rural Kilifi.

Looking at the six trees planted to honour the founding six, all with their names attached, one could not but think of the seeds sown that have yielded an incredible harvest.

See ICN's Facebook page for more pictures from this memorable day.

LINK

IVBM/Loreto Sisters - www.ibvm.org/